Rutgers probing student satirical paper for pro-Hitler column

(JTA) — Rutgers University is investigating a student-run satirical newspaper for publishing an article that praises Hitler and attributing it to a Jewish student.

The New Brunswick, N.J., university is investigating the incident as a bias incident under the university’s anti-bias policies, Rutgers President Richard McCormick said in a statement issued April 6.

The Daily Medium, which receives university funding, published the false column "What About the Good Things Hitler Did?" in its April 4 edition and attributed it to Aaron Marcus.

Marcus has said in interviews that he did not write the article and called it "painful" because some of his relatives are Holocaust survivors. He has spoken out in the past about an anti-Semitic atmosphere at the university.

"Federal courts extend broad protection to student media. However, a recent article in the Medium, purporting to be written by student Aaron Marcus and using Mr. Marcus’ photograph, is extremely offensive and repugnant," McCormick’s statement to the university said. "No individual student should be subject to such a vicious, provocative, and hurtful piece, regardless of whether First Amendment protections apply to such expression.The Medium’s article was particularly despicable in light of Mr. Marcus’ Jewish faith.

The column read, in part, “I couldn’t help but think that history has given the Third Reich and its leaders a bad rap.” It also praised Hitler for bringing about the creation of Israel.

Marcus has a regular column in the mainstream student publication, The Daily Targum.

In 2004, The Daily Medium printed a front-page cartoon that belittled victims of the Holocaust.